Timing is everything in this race

During these turbulent economic times, I find myself glued to the TV most days, waiting for yet another increase in the cost of oil. As of today, oil is selling at $132 a barrel and we are slapped in the face with a family budget-annihilating $4.08 average at the gas pumps. The unfortunate fact of the matter is that there is no quick solution that is going to ease the pain on the nation’s wallets.

Soon to be Republican presidential nominee, Senator John McCain, has outlined a plan to construct forty-five new nuclear reactors by the year 2030 and use two billion dollars towards the research in technology that would make the theory of clean burning coal a reality. He also would call for the opening of long closed off U.S. coastal waters for off shore drilling. McCain’s plan arrived today, hot on the heels of President Bush’s failed attempt to open up wildlife reserves and federal waters for offshore drilling and exploration.

Seeing that it is an election year, it surprises me none that McCain has chosen to unveil his new energy plan now. The issues of economic troubles stemming largely from our dependence on foreign oil, will be highly debated. People are going to want a solution to their problems and McCain seems to have been the first person to offer one. At this point in time, there are 104 nuclear reactors that are responsible for 20% of the nation’s energy. His plan would nearly double that. The American public, is now using approximately 25% of the world’s oil, we produce 3. So yes, Senator McCain’s plan would definitely help cure some of the energy and dependency problems that we are facing. But not for a while.

Before jumping on the senator’s bandwagon, make sure to realize that none of these plans are going to do anything to help our country in the months to come, let alone in the next few years. Advisor to McCain, Gen. James Jones, USMC (ret), has said that at the current time, it takes about five years to obtain a permit to even begin construction for drilling projects. McCain hopes to cut that time in half. So, optimistically speaking, the American public would not benefit from this plan for ATLEAST four to five years.

Senator McCain is playing on the fears and financial distress of his countrymen to obtain more votes. Is the energy problem becoming unbearable? Yes. Is the mere thought of having to fill up your vehicle enough to make you shudder? I still haven’t fully recovered from my last pit stop at the local Exxon. What the American public needs now are viable solutions to the problem. Kudos for thinking ahead, but the timing of the plan unveiling and the average gas price eclipsing $4/gallon seem to be much more than a coincidence.